Since the 1970s, the forex market has witnessed profound changes not only in terms of size but in how it operates. This has been the result of major structural shifts in the global financial system. Political shocks like the election of Donald Trump as the US President and Brexit in 2016 caused major jolts in the foreign exchange markets, fuelling more hedge funds trading activity and bank trading rooms. The uncertainty surrounding higher interest rates and a stronger dollar could fuel more volatility as 2017 enters the last quarter.

New thinking both in terms of finance theory and practice has led to the growth of numerous new derivative products and financial instruments. Advances in thinking and technology have also contributed to a deeper understanding of the global financial system as well as the techniques needed to operate within this system.

Introduction of Global Code of Conduct

The aim of the Code is to set out global good practice principles in the forex market that offer a common market guide. This includes areas where there exists an element of uncertainty regarding what forex trading practices are acceptable or not. This is designed to address issues surrounding trust and promote effective wholesale FX market functioning.

Towards that goal, among the guiding principles that underpin the work on the Global Code is to promote an open, fair, robust, liquid, and transparent forex market. With the support of a resilient infrastructure, a diverse set of forex sellers and buyers should have the ability of effectively and confidently transacting in a manner that is in line with acceptable standards of behaviour and at prices that are reflective of the market information that is available.

Financial Deregulation

Across the globe, major financial deregulation that includes doing away with government restrictions and controls is taking place in nearly every country. This has led to far greater freedom when it comes to national and cross-border financial transactions and more competition between financial institutions.

Also being witnessed is a fundamental change in investment and savings with investors around the world, both individual and institutional diversifying their range of investments into multiple currencies and across international borders.

Algorithms and Speed Bumps

Over the recent past, algorithmic forex trading has been growing as the appeal of trading signals that are automated also grows. The demand for these “black box” automated tools is boosting quick execution that requires minimal human supervision. In 2017, however, speed-based trading strategies have assumed less significance to currency markets. This may be attributed to the introduction by key interdealer platforms of speed bumps that are coming in the form of latency floors.The years ahead might witness a continued move to strategies that are more passive based on electronic market making.

Increased Usage of Block chain

Forex experts are predicting that blockchain, the global distributed ledger technology that underpins bitcoin trading, will in the days ahead, have a big impact in terms of delivering real-time currencies clearance and settlement. This is an international data structure that enables the recording of transactions and sharing the same across a distributed computers network.

Many trading firms are already experimenting with the usage of blockchain as a way of storing and verifying forex transactions without going through a central authority. This has the potential of speeding speed up and greatly cutting trading costs as well as doing away with legacy infrastructure.

Conclusion

A key beneficiary of these emerging FX trading changes is the forex trader who now has an investment vehicle that was undreamt of just a decade ago. Looking out towards 2020, FX market pundits are banking on lighter regulations, the transforming power of blockchain, and an increased role of humans in the forex trading process.